The impact of VFR 6 years on

I moved to Canada in 2006.  In the first 18 months or so I played host to several of my friends from back home.  When Simon came to visit in 2007 I wanted to show him the great outdoors, so we looked to rent a holiday home on the lake.  We invited a couple of friends from Toronto to join us, and this snowballed into 14 people, all of whom I had met, but not all very well.  We booked a place over labour day weekend, and this last month we had our 7th annual labour day cottage weekend.  

A VFR trip inspired a tradition, something I don't have many of in Canada.  It has allowed me to visit a different area of Ontario each year, and has strengthened my relationships with several people who attend.  Others have invited their visiting friends and family from overseas to attend during that same week in different years, and we always seem to have some 'new people' each year.  Although this year we didn't have any visiting friends or relatives it is because of my friend's visit in 2007 that this tradition has been established, my network widened and strengthened, and my knowledge of Canadian geography and culture enhanced.

Hosting the in laws

This past weekend my girlfriend's parents came to stay.  They don't live too far away but for one reason or another it's almost always us visiting them.  Although they have known the city at different times throughout their lives, they are not very familiar with it's current form and character, so it's always interesting to see their reactions, and then in return my girlfriend's and my own.  We had a wonderful time, and they genuinely seemed to enjoy it.  A boat tour around the islands demonstrated that we're never too far from that big open space, picnics and water, a walk through the neighbourhood showed that people from all over the world can live and shop together, and a steak in an old stately home provided a great ambiance that isn't always available in smaller towns.  For us, and my girlfriend in particular, although we see them fairly regularly, it's an important and different experience to host them.  Of course they know us, but to visit us in our own home, visit our local shops, walk the same streets we do every week, they get to know us- and their daughter specifically- a little more- what she sees and does everyday is important in constructing her identity and she takes visible satisfaction in sharing these experiences with her parents.

My own VFR

A recent trip back to my home town saw me as a guest being hosted by my friends and family.  I have lived away for approximately 10 years, returning most years to visit my family.  However, this was the first time I've returned since my mother moved (migrated?) to another city.  Although they are not immigrants there were still some interesting goings on related to my study.  With my mother we explored her new city, a combination of us visiting new areas for her, and of her showing me places she had already discovered, justifying her move to me, and ultimately herself, of how nice the place was. 

When I visited my old group of friends we socialised in small and large groups.  I picked up that the large groups isn't something that happens quite as often as it used to when we were younger (I don't mean to sound arrogant, but we met up in large groups while I was back which they don't often do anymore).  So the residents had increased local interaction with each other that has lead to a reconnection for some.  We went out for many meals, to old and new places, spending money and becoming acquainted with the city's newer offerings.  And some of our hosts were keen to take us to places that were important for them, fishing off the cliffs, or a walk in the country- places that had prior significance for them because of childhood memories etc.  And, of course, it was all good fun too...

For me it's important to maintain connections with the places and people who I grew up with.  It reaffirms who I am, and allows me to reconnect and pick up on the changes that have happened to those I've known so well.  I do email and skype with some friends, but it's not often, and when we do it isn't as in depth or natural as sitting across the kitchen table from them and having a chat- the technology helps maintain, but will never replace.  

OTMPC Booth at Mosaic Festival, Mississauga

A picture of the booth aimed at engaging newcomers by OTMPC. You could enter a competition and complete a survey on your travel and VFR habits to win a trip for your overseas family to visit, and a green screen photo booth which emailed pics o you in Ottawa etc. good collection of intelligence, but little engagement in explaining what travel opportunities exist to people, I received some brochures but no conversation on places to go... Good for info collecting, but didn't inspire us to travel anywhere.